One cell contains the blueprint for an organism. Within the cell nucleus is deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). DNA consists of genes, which are segments that contain the instructions for creating different parts of a cell.
There are many types of cells within the human body. Within each cell, certain genes are turned on and others are turned off. This determines what the cell will become, a process called differentiation, and how the cell works. How often that cell divides and how long it will live are also included in the genetic code. Cells can divide a certain number of times before they stop reproducing.
Cancer Reproduction
In some people, a cell mutation occurs and the cell no longer functions properly. Instead of the normal response of programmed self-destruction, the cell continues to divide to create more immature cells. There is no limit to how many times these cells can divide, so they continue to divide uncontrollably resulting in a tumor.
Cell Differentiation
As cancer cell division progresses, the cells become less differentiated, or mature. Early cancer cells will more closely resemble the original cell from which they originated, whereas late stage cancer will look much less differentiated and may not resemble the original cell at all.
Cell Migration
Cells are attached to other cells to create a tissue. These cells stay in place for their lifetime. Cancer cells can detach from the tissue and migrate to other areas of the body. The cancer cell continues to divide and a new tumor forms in a different part of the body. This is metastasis.
Chemotherapy
In the OncoLink article, "Chemotherapy Primer: Why? What? and How?" Julia Draznin Maltzman, M.D. and Carolyn Vachani RN, MSN, AOCN say, "One feature that is seen in most cancer cells is that they grow at a rate faster than normal cells. Therefore, targeting some aspect of the cell growth cycle seems reasonable. Fast-growing cells would be affected the most and slow-growing cells would be least disturbed." Chemotherapy is often the only option for people who have certain types of cancer, such as mesothelioma.
Hair cells are also some of the more rapidly-dividing cells in the body. It is this characteristic that chemotherapy drugs are designed to target, which is why hair loss is one of the more commonly recognized side effects of chemotherapy.
The more cancer cells the divide, the quicker they divide. This can result in the loss of genetic information that will result in a cell that is less like the original cell. Since the rate of cancer cell division is not common for normal cells, cancer medications are designed to target rapidly-dividing cells.
Resource
Cancer Research UK: The Cancer Cell
Diane Ursu - Diane Ursu joined Suite101 as a contributing writer in August 2009 and became a Feature Writer in January 2010. She is a freelance writer ...
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